c-section--scared!

[Anonymous]

I am about to have a c-section for medical reasons on Friday. I really don't consider myself a wimp but I am so scared! I have never even had anesthesia before of any kind. I made the mistake of watching Birth Day Live the other day. This woman had a c-section, without complication, and when they followed-up with her a few days later in the hospital, she was a mess! Can some of you who have had them please let me know what the pain was like the few days afterwards, how long you were in the hospital and how long it took you to get back to "normal?" Thanks so much.

[Anonymous]

Don't freak yourself out! Mine was really very simple, and mostly pain free. The reality is, it is major abdominal surgery... so don't expect to be hitting your Yoga class the week following your C-section. The procedure itself (at least for me) was largely pain-free. The epidural they put in works very well, and involves some discomfort (or even minor "pain"... but really, its MINOR... I'm a wimp!), but after that I didn't feel a thing. When you're done, they'll leave the epidural in for 24 hours or so. When they take it out, you will start to get sore... but its mostly soreness, with an occasional sharp jab of pain if you move in a way you shouldn't. So just expect to take it very very easy for a few week. For me, getting in and out of bed was hardest, but they have good pain medication... so TAKE IT!

So - set your expectations realistically, but REALLY, don't freak out. I was terrified of mine, and I can honestly say it wasn't NEARLY as bad/scary as I anticipated it would be.

I hope you have an easy procedure, and a happy and healthy baby when its done. Hang in there! It will be OK!

[Anonymous]

I had a c-section and I thought the recovery was really easy. Mine was scheduled because the baby was breech. As one of the Dr's told me (!)--either your vagina is going to be torn up from the birth or they will be cutting through your abdomen, so everyone feels something.

I was more nervious about the anesthesia, and it was freaky, but fine. They numb your back and then shoot the medicine in, but you don't feel it. During the surgery the durgs made me kinda shaky, so have your husband or partner be ready to hold your head or hand steady. They pull the baby out very quickly and then spend more time putting you back together.

The first 24 hours you aren't allowed out of bed--you have a catheter and can't eat solids. I was sore and in pain getting up by day two but it really wasn't that bad, and not worse than my friends who had natural births. One piece of advice--bring some prunes because the first bm you have to make after surgery for everyone can be a little painful. The most painful thing for me was actually the hospital bed--it was never quite the right height for picking up DS from the bassinet. After surgery they will likely offer you some pain meds--take them! Don't be a hero. It is major surgery and it will help you for the first day or two.

That said, i was walking around and up and down stairs, slowly, within the week. By two weeks I was taking walks around the neighborhood and up and down little hills. I thought I would really need my parents there to help me, bring me breakfast in bed, etc, but I was feeling fine.

I don't know if I was lucky or what but I think my experience was great, and I was really haoping for a "natural" experience before the c-section. So dont worry!

[Anonymous]

If it's any consolation, I have read/heard that scheduled c-sections are easier to recover from and are less risky than those done during labor. And you'll have the benefit of discussing all the details with your OB ahead of time and maybe even have an anesthesia consult (or you can talk to them before the surgery). My c-section was after a long labor (reason was for failure to descend). I spent 4 nights in the hospital, the first two days or so were pretty tough but then it got easier. I could've probably gone home sooner, but DD was in the NICU so I was in the hospital anyway. Try to get up and walk as early as possible (they let me get out of bed 24 hours after the surgery once they removed the IV, but I heard that people get to do that sooner). It will hurt, but will make your recovery easier and will also help with the circulation etc. You will be on a liquid/clear food diet for 12-24 hours after the surgery. Also, if you plan to breastfeed, I found the boppy an absolute must those first few days (and then later too, but especially at first), it really cushions the incision. Take your pain medication on schedule. Once I went home I could walk up and down the stairs just fine, but a lot of people can't, so I would plan on that if you have several levels in your house. If you think you might want to have a VBAC for any future pregnancy, talk to your doctor about having a double-layer suture on your uterus. I think it is getting to be the standard practice, but according to current research it's a little better than single-layer for a future labor. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

All I remember is that the drug they gave me for the surgery made me EUPHORIC. I have never felt so ecstatic in my life. They put a sheet up so that I could not see what they were doing, and they told my husband to sit where he could not see either, but he got to sit right there with me and hold my hand during the operation.

[Anonymous]

Don't worry. I've had 2 c-sections. The first was after many, many hours of labor. I was wiped out the next day, but walking around within 2 days.

The 2nd was a planned c-section. I was walking within 12 hours. The first time you stand up is hard. After that, it's really not too bad.

Many people are off pain killers (except Motrin) by the time they leave the hospital. Some people aren't, and there's no shame in using them if you have to.

The surgery itself can be scary if you don't know what to expect, but it is quick. Ask the anesthesiologist ahead of time to explain what you will feel. I was surprised that I was pretty much immobilized from the neck down. But if you know that, you won't worry that you're suddenly unable to move.

You will probably be able to hold your baby within the hour afterwards. It makes it all worthwhile. Good luck to you.

[Anonymous]

You'll love it. I had two. I went home from the hospital a day early each time because I felt so great.

My babies were each born in about fifteen minutes - I held them about a moment after they were born, and everything was pretty wonderful and miraculous.

Best of luck to you!

[Anonymous]

Mine went fine, I had planned c-section. During the operation I did not feel anything, and did not have any of the side effects that the doctor warned could happen. They kept the epidural in I think for another day, so there was no pain, and after they removed it, they gave me pain killers - which i refused to take after trying the first one, as felt there was no need for it. It was not painful but just a pulling sensation. I too left for home a day early.

Good luck with yours, don't be scared - once you hear your baby's cries in the operating room, you'll just focus on looking at her probably.

[Anonymous]

Have had two c's, it is no picnic, but not nearly as bad as I had imagined. My advice, get off the pain meds asap and take tylenol 3 or motrin. Better for your tummy and BFing. Try not to stress...the planned c's are relatively safe.

[Anonymous]

Scheduled c-section due to breech presentation. The pain meds gave me a horrible headache right away but the anas. fixed it right away. Be sure to communicate with him/her if it doesen't feel right. Couldn't feel them taking out the baby but I found it very uncomfortable as they were putting me back together. It was as if I could feel them putting back all my plumbing correctly.

I know a previous poster mentioned "prunes". I did not know that they do not let you eat until you pass gas. Well it took me 56 hours!!! I was starving. Here I am exhausted and trying to breast feed and really could use the energy from food and am on a liquid diet. They gave me an enema and still nothing. I can't tell you how happy I was when I was finally able to eat real food.

I agree about having the boppy if you are breastfeeding. My incision did hurt for quite a while. I stayed in the hospital for 4 nights, I believe the maximum insurance will cover and am glad I did.

I had my mom with me at home so I could really focus on taking care of myself. Take your pain meds. I hope everything goes well for you.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately, you have quite a bit of time to think about it, but you really shouldn't worry. I had a C-Section after several hours of labor. I was really scared before it happened, but it happened fast and painlessly. You will be so excited to see your baby so think about that and don't worry about the procedure.

Afterwards, I found it a little tough to sit up in bed, get out of bed, and walk. It just took a little time to build up my strength, but it was no big deal. The only time my incision hurt after I got home was from laughing hysterically at the baby's antics (projectile pooping on the wall). We were so sleep deprived it didn't take much ... I would grab my stomach and yell at my husband to stop making me laugh. Ahhh, you have such good times to look forward to!! And, the hospital will give you percocet for the pain just in case.

Good luck!!!!

[Anonymous]

I had a scheduled c-section and it was the best decision I ever made. Very easy recovery, just make sure you take your pain medications on schedule at the hospital- usually every 4 hours. By the time I got home 3 days later, I was only taking regular Tylenol 1-2x/week for the next week, then nothing. You will be fine- really!

[Anonymous]

I hope that OP's c-section went well. I didn't want to post until after she had her c-section schedule, so here goes. I am pg with #2 and am also scared-to-death of having a c-sec. I delivered vaginally with baby#1, but she was really big (10 lbs) and I was constantly told by one of the OBs that I would most likely end up with a c-sec due to her size. A dr from a different practice was on call and I did not deliver until 30hrs after my water broke. Normally, they won't let you go that long after your water breaks, but they were really busy that night and that dr ended up doing 6 unscheduled c-secs that night. She was sleeping when I started to push. After delivery my OB told me that if she had been on call, I would have had a c-sec.

I know I did it once, but I am so worried about baby #2 and getting the OB I don't like on call to force me into a c-sec. I have to say that based on my recovery from a vaginal birth with a very large baby and given what was said in the above post, it STILL reall freaks me out to think about a c-sec. It sounds like recovery from a c-sec is still worse than vaginal. I had some bf issues that almost threw me into PPD and I'm just concerned that if I end up with a c-sec with baby #2 and bf'ing is hard again, I will not emotionally recover as fast. Did anyone have PPD issues that you think were caused by having a c-sec?